The best skateboarders in Dunedin will get technical on the rooftop of Northland Mall in Christchurch today.

Dunedin skateboarder Patrick Wybrow (17) said 20 skateboarders were picked to compete on rooftops in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland at the Zon of the Lines Skateboard Invitational Series for a share of $10,000 in prizes.

The winners of the Christchurch and Wellington events would join Auckland's top 20 skateboarders and two more wildcard entrants for the grand final, Patrick said.

The King's High School pupil started skateboarding about five years ago and practised about 30 hours a week.

Each rooftop would have a custom-crafted course that included street-inspired obstacles, like a picnic table, a flat bar and a wheelchair ramp, but he had not preplanned any tricks for his heat, he said.